At York's Browns department store, a group of breast cancer survivors shone in a charity fashion display, BBC reported.
The "empowering" event featured the store's newest fashion range while raising funds for Breast Friends, a charitable organization. Survivors celebrated their "new normal" last Thursday at a sold-out event, with friends and relatives encouraging them to sing along. According to the organizers, the organization that provides peer support to individuals with breast cancer received £2,000 from the event. Organizers Sara Murphy and Zoe Bounds discussed the origins of the idea for the York show with BBC Radio York before to the event.
The two met on a course in 2019 and were both previously diagnosed with breast cancer. Sara remembers telling the group they could go into a drawing to be chosen as models for a London-based fashion show featuring breast cancer survivors.
"I looked at Zoe and said, 'but look at all of these fabulous women in this room - we don't need to go to London'."
Sara, who had previously worked in Browns' lingerie department, had friends in the retail sector and was able to connect with a former department store colleague to arrange the event, which has been held during York Fashion Week since 2019. A peer support group called Breast Friends brings together people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, and nearly all of the models are from this group.
"We just help each other out," says Zoe. "We have all been there and heard the words 'you've got cancer. So, we've got people that have had a lot of treatment, we've got people who have just had surgery - it doesn't matter what treatment you've had, it's that you've heard those words."
While some of this year's models are returning to the fashion runway, others are debutantes.
It's really incredible, Sara remarked. "One girl almost puked before continuing last year and believed she couldn't do it, but this year, she was among the first to respond when I made the request. "So, compared to last year, she will have a whole different experience. It's simply amazing."
The goal of the show is to portray regular women who have survived cancer celebrating their bodies.
After receiving a cancer diagnosis, Zoe thinks people who attempt to return to their pre-disease state will "probably be disappointed."
"I get to see these women who have been through so much - their bodies have changed, the control has been taken away from them and they're trying to find a new normal," she stated.
"Once you've heard those words, you can't go back to normal."
All proceeds will go toward funding Breast Friends, which Zoe and Sara jokingly refer to as "the best support group you never wanted to join." This will make sure that anyone diagnosed with breast cancer may enjoy getting together with other women who are going through a similar experience, regardless of their financial situation. /BGNES